Liverpool sign off at Anfield with lacklustre draw as legends depart

Liverpool played their final home match of the 2025/26 Premier League season on Sunday, drawing 1-1 with Brentford at Anfield. The result was secondary to the emotional farewells for several departing club legends, but the performance raised questions about the team's direction under Arne Slot.

Context: A season of transition ends in mediocrity

Liverpool entered the match having won only four of their previous ten league games, a run that cost them a Champions League spot. The 2025/26 campaign was always going to be one of transition after the departures of key figures, but a final position of seventh is well below expectations. Manchester United and Chelsea both finished above them, highlighting the size of the rebuild required.

Tactically, Slot has struggled to implement his high-pressing system consistently. Against Brentford, Liverpool registered just three shots on target from 14 attempts, a recurring issue this season. Their expected goals (xG) of 1.2 was their lowest at home since March.

Impact: Farewells overshadow tactical shortcomings

The match was always going to be about the players leaving. Captain Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, and Trent Alexander-Arnold all played their final home games for the club, with Salah scoring a late equaliser to salvage a point. The Egyptian's 22nd league goal of the season was a reminder of his quality, but his future remains unresolved.

  • Van Dijk's leadership will be impossible to replace; Liverpool conceded 47 league goals this term, their worst return since 2015/16.
  • Salah's 22 goals and 10 assists accounted for 37% of Liverpool's total league goals — nobody else managed double figures.
  • Alexander-Arnold's departure leaves a creative void; his 12 assists led the team and ranked fourth in the division.

The result also meant Liverpool finished with 56 points, their lowest total in a full season since 2015/16. For context, that is 26 points fewer than their 2019/20 title-winning campaign. The board now faces a crucial summer with limited funds and a bloated squad that needs significant surgery.

What's next: An uncertain summer rebuild

Liverpool's final match is away at Southampton, a dead rubber that will offer little preparation for next season. The club must identify a new centre-back, right-back, and potentially a striker if Darwin Nunez is sold. Sporting director Richard Hughes has been tasked with overhauling the squad, but with no Champions League revenue, budget constraints are real. The departing legends leave a legacy that will be hard to replicate, but the performance against Brentford showed that sentiment alone cannot mask deep-rooted issues. Slot needs at least four starters this summer just to compete for a top-four place.

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